With the UK’s biggest horse racing festival just a day away, we’ve listed some of our best tips for punters to chance their arm on for this week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Brandy Love – Mares’ Hurdle, Tuesday 16:10
Last year, she was up there as one of the favourites in this race, but due to a last-minute injury, she didn’t compete. Instead, the race was won by Love Envoi, who lost to Brandy Love a few weeks later.
Despite her hatred for right-handed courses, she has shown remarkable form in her last three races.
The course and distance in hindsight should be ideal for her and her run at Punchestown was a great opportunity to dust off the cobwebs. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she claims gold in the Mares’ hurdle.
BRANDY LOVE TO WIN THE MARES HURDLE – @13/2
Gaelic Warrior – Ballymore Novices Hurdle, Wednesday 13:30
The Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe has been one of the big talking horses on the Cheltenham preview circuit in recent weeks, but while I do think Mullins will win the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday, I think he may do so with Gaelic Warrior.
The five-year-old was considered a banker for many on his first start for Mullins off a mark of 129 in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at this meeting last year.
Those that felt he was well off that mark were absolutely spot on, but unfortunately for them, a tendency to jump to his right coupled with inexperience saw him touched off by a short-head by Brazil.
The step up in trip promises to suit him well and while he has some talking horses in opposition to him, Gaelic Warrior appeals as being the form horse in the race. He represents a very fair proposition at his current price.
GAELIC WARRIOR TO WIN THE BALLYMORE NOVICES’ HURDLE – @ 5/1
Flooring Porter – Paddy Power Stayers’ hurdle, Wednesday 15:30
An injury saw the gelding become a doubt for the Festival, but the recent stable vibes have become increasingly positive, and it looks likely that Flooring Porter will line up to defend his crown.
A fourth-place finish at Navan was an excusable opening effort in the Lismullen Hurdle, but there was market confidence behind him when he soundly beat Home By The Lee at Christmas.
Yet Flooring Porter always seemed to reserve his best for Cheltenham, and he was never asked serious questions by Danny Mullins when winning this race for the past two years.
There doesn’t look to be any other obvious front-runners in this race, so Mullins might again get the opportunity to dictate things from the front and start another party in the winners’ enclosure.
FLOORING PORTER TO WIN THE PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE – @6/1
Shishkin – Ryanair Steeplechase, Thursday 14:50
After winning the Betfair Ascot Chase recently, Shishkin is now the favourite by a long way to win Thursday’s feature race.
The Ryanair could cut up into a small field race which will suit Shishkin, and even though he’s now a nine year old he could still be improving and could be one of the bankers of the meeting.
After last year’s disappointment in the Champion Hurdle, he will set on getting his Cheltenham retribution.
SHISHKIN TO WIN THE RYANAIR STEEPLECHASE – @8/11
Galopin Des Champs – Cheltenham Gold Cup, Friday 3:30
Galopin Des Champs is a very strong favourite for the race and has been for some time. Having won all his starts so far this season, he’s now into as little as 11/8 with some bookmakers for the big one in March.
There are a few horses behind on similar prices. Last year’s hero A Plus Tard is the current 6/1 2nd favourite. The 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats is available at 7/1.
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS TO WIN THE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP – @11/8
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